Serbian football legend Sinisa Mihajlovic dies aged 53

BOLOGNA - Serbian former footballer and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic died on Friday at the age of 53 after a two-and-a-half-year battle against leukemia.

He returned to coaching duties at Bologna in May after his condition temporarily improved but a subsequent relapse of the disease proved fatal.

Mihajlovic began his playing career at Borovo and went on to play for Vojvodina Novi Sad, Red Star Belgrade, Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter.

With Red Star Belgrade, he won the UEFA Champions Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in 1991.

He played 63 matches for the national team, scoring 10 goals.

He coached Bologna, Catania, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Milan, Torino and Bologna and was also the Serbia head coach in the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.